Title-chasing Liverpool sink sorry United

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard (L) celebrates with Liverpool forward Luis Suarez after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, Northwest England. (AFP/PAUL ELLIS)

Gerrard found the net from 12 yards either side of half-time before Luis Suarez added a third goal in the 84th minute to give Liverpool their first victory at Old Trafford in five years.

Gerrard should have had a hat-trick of spot-kicks, with a third penalty hitting the post after United captain Nemanja Vidic had been shown a second yellow card for felling Daniel Sturridge, but it was to prove anecdotal.

Gerrard said that the result proved that Liverpool were "genuine contenders" for the title, but although they have a game in hand on Chelsea, manager Brendan Rodgers sounded a note of caution.

"Our dominance in the match was clear," he said. "We could arguably have scored five or six and that is testament to the quality of the players.

"But we won't get carried away. It is a wonderful result and our confidence is high at the moment, but our only focus is on the next game."

While Rodgers's side look more like potential champions with each display, United's season continues to unravel.

This was the defending champions' fifth home defeat of the campaign and having started the day 11 points below the Champions League places, their hopes of a top-four finish have been all but extinguished.

As a result, Wednesday's Champions League home game with Olympiakos now takes on crucial significance, but with United 2-0 down from the first leg of the last 16 tie, there could be more misery around the corner.

"It was important we came out in the second half and got a goal back, but instead we gave one away and that made it very difficult for us," said United manager David Moyes.

"It looks like we are a long way off (the top four). We are well aware of that, but we are going to keep fighting."

Moyes had admitted prior to the game that Liverpool's form "probably" made them favourites, but he will have been alarmed by the ease with which the visitors found holes in the hosts' defence.

There were fewer than three minutes on the clock when a Jordan Henderson pass down the inside-right channel set Sturridge free, but he shot wide with his weaker right foot.

United demonstrated plenty of commitment in the opening exchanges, with Phil Jones and Robin van Persie both flying into early challenges, but they had not mustered a shot worthy of the name by the time Liverpool went ahead in the 34th minute.

As Suarez looked to dink the ball past Rafael da Silva on the left-hand side of the area, the Brazilian jutted out a hand and referee Mark Clattenburg immediately awarded a penalty.

Having been booked for clattering Gerrard moments earlier, Rafael was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card, but the Liverpool captain showed no mercy from the spot to silence the catcalls from the Stretford End.

Liverpool's fans at the opposite end of the ground celebrated deliriously, and although United briefly rallied, with Wayne Rooney stinging Simon Mignolet's palms, there was more of the same to come.

Only 25 seconds of the second half had elapsed when Jones barged into Joe Allen after he had chested down a lofted pass from Henderson and Gerrard's second spot-kick, into the bottom-right corner, was again unerring.

After Van Persie had headed wide from a Rooney cross, Gerrard was handed an opportunity to complete a first ever hat-trick against United when Sturridge tumbled over Vidic's outstretched leg.

This time, however, his aim was slightly off, with the ball cannoning against the base of the left-hand post and away.

Liverpool were not finished though. Moments after being thwarted by a stunning save from David de Gea, Suarez ghosted in behind the hosts' flatfooted defence to roll home and make United's misery complete.